Health Notes

Health notes are for support groups, exercise classes, blood drives and similar events open to the public at no or minimal cost. Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-917-6459. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.

Healthy Heart Pass at South Run RECenter, on sale through Feb. 14. Passes include membership at nine RECenters, use of fitness facilities and equipment, use of pool, spa and sauna, free XYO classes and Fitlinxx Computer Systems. 7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield. 703-866-0566

Stroke and Osteoporosis Screening on Tuesday, Jan. 13, beginning at 9 a.m. at Community Covenant Church, 7018 Sydenstricker Road in Springfield. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-697-9721 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required. Screenings are painless, accurate and affordable. Bone density screening, finger-stick blood tests and liver enzyme screenings are also available. Register for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm for $149. All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.

Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, will be offering a free six-week Widow/Widower’s support group, beginning Saturday, Jan. 31 from 2:30-4 p.m. Haven also offers one-on-one support. A volunteer will meet with a person grieving the death of a loved one, as needed, to provide individual support. Volunteers will be selected to match individual need. 703-941-7000, www.havenofnova.org or e-mail havenofnova@verizon.net

Life with Cancer has a variety of support programs for cancer patients and their families at the Cancer Family Center, 2700 Prosperity Ave., Fairfax. 703-776-2841 or www.lifewithcancer.org.

The Clifton Presbyterian Church has a Caregiver Support Group that meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 12748 Richards Lane, Clifton. This group is for caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other age-related problems. 703-830-9175 ext. 17.

Registration for weekday and weekend Lamaze childbirth classes in Springfield is available at www.lamaze-dc.com or by calling 703-549-2226.

Alzheimer's Family Day Center, located at 2812 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, hosts various classes. Reservations are required, and classes are open to people who are caring for a relative or friend with dementia. 703-204-4664 or www.alzheimersfdc.org/classes.htm.

The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area offers the following support group opportunities:

* Fairfax Sully Group and Exercise Class. The Support Group meets monthly on the fourth Saturday, from 10-11 a.m., with an exercise class at 11 a.m., at the Fair Oaks Sunrise Assisted Living Facility, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. 703-378-9213 or www.parkinsonstories.com.

* Fairfax Little River Glen Support Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m., at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. 202-966-4450.

* The Springfield Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., at Greenspring Village, 7400 Spring Village Drive, Town Center Building, Music Room, Springfield. 703-569-2630 or 703-913-0270.

TLC: Teens Living with Cancer. Monthly social activities for 13 to 18-year-olds who have cancer give them a chance to meet others with cancer, share a little, and have fun. Call 703-208-5623 for details. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. 703-698-2841 or www.lifewithcancer.org.

Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group. Meets the third Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at Pohick Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Call Barbara at 703-913-0890 or Maxine at 703-451-4558.

The Alzheimer's Association National Capital Area Chapter offers telephone discussion groups, called Tuesday Telephone Talks, every Tuesday from 12-1 p.m. Skilled group facilitator moderates discussions; metro-area residents may call in and discuss a wide range of caregiving topics. Join the discussion by calling toll-free at 888-262-0101. Discussion topics at 703-766-9007 or www.alz.org/nca.

Brain Tumor Group, first Tuesday of the month at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. Adult patients and families are invited to share and learn ways to meet the challenges of living with primary malignant or benign brain tumors. 703-698-2841.

The Caregivers Meeting. Weekly drop-in group for family members and friends of those with cancer to discuss various concerns. Wednesdays, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Radiation Oncology Conference Room. Use the blue garage. 703-698-2841 or www.lifewithcancer.org.

Burke/Springfield/Fairfax Compassionate Friends Support Group. Friendship and understanding to families grieving the death of a child. The support group meets monthly at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, at 7:30 p.m. 703-425-9504.

Body and Soul aerobics and strength training classes meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9-10:30 a.m., at Burke Community Church, 9990 Old Keene Mill Road. Body and Soul is a complete cardiovascular and strength workout to contemporary Christian music. 703-372-2332.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsors the 'First Connection' program, which matches patients newly diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or another blood-related cancer and their families with cancer survivors who have lived through a similar illness. 703-960-1100, ext. 231.

Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group. Meets the third Monday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m., at Manor Care of Fair Oaks, 12475 Lee Jackson Highway. Facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. Call 703- 352-7172 prior to attending for the first time.

The Jewish Social Services Agency offers a variety of programs and support groups meeting at 3018 Javier Road, Fairfax. Call 703-204-9100 for more information.

* An Anxiety Management Group for children ages 8-10. Children learn to manage anxiety through discussion, games, and role-play.

* Support Group for Parents of Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and Related Disorders.

* Social Club for Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome. JSSA and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) social club for young adults diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome or related disorders.

* Get Connected: Adult Social Skills, for men and women ages 19-35 who may have Asperger's syndrome and are having difficulty transitioning into successful young adulthood.

* You and Your Aging Parents. Coping with illness, managing difficult emotions, identifying appropriate resources to support an aging parent and develop a care plan.

The Fairfax City Parkinson’s Disease Support group meets at the second Monday of each month, 7 p.m. This group welcomes those with Parkinson's, their caregivers, family and friends. Green Acres Community Center, 4401 Sideburn Road, Room 116, Fairfax. 703-277-9666 or e-mail therobbs@cox.net.

Cornerstone Residence in Fairfax Club Estates is accepting applications for admission to a not-for-profit group home for learning disabled females. Live-in counselors assist with independent living skills, college classes and transition, diet and exercise, transportation, meals, recreation and social opportunities. Call Karen at 703-323-9420.

Inova Blood Donor Services is open weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at its main location at 3289 Woodburn Road in Annandale. To inquire about appointments at a convenient donor center or blood drive, call 1-866-256-6372 or visit www.inova.org/donateblood.